MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us TWITTER: @PGFDPIO
New Explosives Detection Canine Team Graduates
The Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department, Office of the Fire Marshal has added a new member to their roster. K-9 Tango and her partner, Captain Bino J. Harris, recently completed a 16 week explosive detection training program offered by the Central Intelligence Agency. K-9 Tango, a 21 month old Labrador retriever, has been conditioned to detect explosives, explosives residue, and post-blast evidence. In Prince George’s County, the Bomb Squad is a function of the Fire/ EMS Department and housed within the Office of the Fire Marshal. Due to recent retirements, the Office of the Fire Marshal had a need for an explosives detecting canine capable of detecting explosives and firearms threats in an effort to support its mission.
K-9 Tango was hand selected by CIA trainers from a nonprofit organization called Puppies Behind Bars. This program pairs inmates with puppies to teach the dogs basic commands.
She was then taught explosives odor recognition through a food and praise reward system. K-9 Tango is trained to detect chemical compounds used in an estimated 19,000 explosives formulas.
